Service line coupling



July 4, 1950 A. H. KlRKsEY SERVICE LINE couPEING 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 14, 1945 JNVENTOR. 157m @SHZ'r/fsey @QAM July 4, 1950 A. H. KIRKSEY SERVICE LINE coUPLING 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 14, 1945 INVENTOR. WUSHvZ'Kseg BY I July 4, 1950 A. H. KIRKSEY SERVICE LINE coUPLING 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 14, 1945 RUU ma NK @.r. NZ MA fw w NW /A W Patented July 4, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SERVICE LINE COUPLING Amos H. Kirksey, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application August 14, 1945, Serial No. 610,777

9 Claims. (Cl. 280-33.05)

This invention relates to a coupling apparatus for connecting up a supply line for an operating fluid on a towing vehicle, to the service line on a towed vehicle, for example, a trailer, or semitrailer. The apparatus is intended t be used particularly for connecting up an operating fluid line such as pneumatic lines and hydraulic lines for operating brakes, or any accessory devices operating with a uid of that kind; and also for connecting up electric light cables for supplying operating current to lights carried by the towed vehicle.

While the invention is applicable in other situations, it is described by Way of example, in the following specification, applied for connecting up an operating fluid line and located in the vicinity of the draft coupling that connects a semi-trailer to the towing vehicle or truck. One of the objects of the invention is to provide simple means for supporting a flexible extension of the supply line in such a way that when the towing vehicle is coupled to the semi-trailer, the coupling member carried on the end of the flexible extension will be in convenient position for being interlocked by hand with a corresponding coupling member that may be carried in a fixed position on the towed vehicle.

The draft coupling connection for effecting the coupling of a towing vehicle to` a semi-trailer usually includes a fifth-wheel element or member that is carried on the rear end of the towing'vehicle, and this fifth-wheel member usually has a king pin associated with it. The towing Vehicle is coupled at the draft coupling to the semi-trailer, by backing its rear end under the forward end of the semi-trailer. This is done while the fifth-wheel member of the towing vehicle is heldv in a tilted position so that it presents an inclined face up which the rollers on the forward end of the semi-trailer advance. When this relative movement is taking place, the guide throat on the semi-trailer engages the king pin and aligns the fifth-wheel member of the towing vehicle coaxially with the fifth-wheel member on the semi-trailer. One of the objects of this invention is to provide a construction for coupling apparatus, for connecting a supply line to a service line, referred to above, and which is particularly adapted for use with towing vehicles and semi-trailers that can be coupled together in the Way just described. l

Another object of the invention is to provide-a mounting or support for carrying a flexible extension of a supply line7 in a location adapting it for effecting an interlocking connection between its coupling heads, or coupling members and the relatively xed coupling heads or coupling members carried on the forward end of a semi-trailer.

Another object of thelinvention is to provide a carrier for a flexible conduit extension of lthe supply line that can be applied as an attachment to a king pin on a towing vehicle, and which is very simple in construction and readily applicable to the king pin; also, to construct the carrier in such a way that it is very simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel parts and combinations of parts to be described hereinafter, all of which contribute to produce an efficient coupling apparatus.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described inthe following specification, while the broad scope ofthe invention is pointed out in the appended claims..

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the rear end of 4a towing vehicle represented in dotted lines; and illustrating its fifth-wheel member held in a tilted position, as it would be, when the towing vehicle is being backed under the forward end of the semi-trailer. In this View a portion of the forward end of the semi-trailer is also illustrated broken away,

Figure 2 is a. plan of the parts illustrated in Figure 1 and showing them in the same relation as in Figure 1. A

Figure 3 is a side elevation corresponding to Figure 1 but showing the relation of the parts after the towing vehicle has been coupled to the semi-trailer through the draft coupler which enables the towing vehicle to tow the semi-trailer.

Figure 4 is a plan of the parts illustrated in Figure 3 and showing the flexible extension of the supply line connected up to the service line 0n the semi-trailer.

Figure 5 is a Side elevation upon an enlarged scale, illustrating the teeter, or tilt member, ofV

the fifth-wheel on the towing vehicle partially in section and broken away, and this view also illustrates how the carrier for the flexible conduit extension is constructed and attached to the king pm,

Referring to the drawings and particularly to' wardly at two fixed coupling heads l and 8, tor

which they areconneeted. y

These coupling heads, as illustrated, face to- 3 ward each other, that is to say, when they are coupled to the coupling heads on the towing vehicle, the towing vehicles clamping head will be applied at the inside.

The constructionon the tov'J'ingvehicle Yl includes a lpillow-block- 9==r`hountedffor rotation on the base IIJ on a vertical axis, and this axis passes through a horizontal bearing I I located at each side of the structure (see Figure 2), which bearing supports the teeter or tilt member I2. The rear end of this tilt member "I-E is formed into a projecting wing I3, the lower edge of which, in the tilted position of this member, rests upon a ledge or a rest I4, as indicated in dottedlines in Figure l. The tilt me'fnber I2 carries a king pin I5, whichvin the present instance projects up- *from `the V,upper v'face .of the tilt member.

`When the `tilt member is in lthe inclined 'position` illustrated. in Figure 2, itsupper'face constitutes an :extension ofthe 'ramp `2 andthe wheels 3 pass freely onto its upper face when they leave the ramp.

4 plane, and the shank extensions 32a and 32h are formed integrally respectively with an upper fork 2Ia and a lower fork 2lb, the upper fork being offset upwardly from the shank 32, and thel'ower fork ZI'b being voffset downwardly from the level of the shank'.

The carrier arm is supported on the forward `-vportion of the tilt member I2, and for this reason ymay -beprovided with a lwear plate 33 that is f course, the towing vehicle may not be perl fectlywaligned `with the trailer when it backs under-it.

{Inforder to guide the king pin 'I5 onto kthe central axis of the semi-trailer and into a guide slot I6 formedin 'thefframe f'plate- Il, the forward -end ofltherframe plate I-'I is formed with @converging .throat -lipresented between inclined 'edges vI9 as shown. These edges are formed on the forwardend 'of l'the two sections I-Ictand I'Ib.thatdnthe,presentjinst'anoe constitute the Aframelplate I1 .ofthe semi-trailer.

y-As the king pin "I5 passesbackv into the slot I6 `itis engagedA automatically Yby a, Ypair of .jaws 2B, indicated in dottedllin'e's in Figure 4. These jaws` engage .thefking .pin on opposite sides and ,eiect .a mechanical coupling for towing the trailer. A

`:Inapplying vmy .invention Ytoa towing vehicle andisemi-trailer constructed .substantially as described, I provide a carrier `2'I in "the form of an arm` kthat npreferably attached t'o the tilting member .I2 -so-that it is capable of cooperating with theflexible conduits Y22 'or 23 vin such a way as to-.enable the coupling headsi24 or S25 yto be seizedin Vone's hand and interlocked tothe coupling heads Y'I and 8. In order 'to` accomplish this, I .prefer to attach the rear end `of this carrien ar-m `2l` directly on the king pin, and vthe detail of this connection is Villustrated in Figure 5. This view `illustrates the-king pin as provided-withfa bore 26in which I mount a carrier pivot pin 2-7, the body of which is in the formv of la shanlcthat `projects belowthe nut Z8 `tha`t securesthe lower endofthe king .pin inrposition. This shank is threaded at its Alower end to receive a retaining nut 29 that seats against the lower end of the king pin .I'5. u

The upper lend of thepivot 21 -is formed with a v`neck ll of slightly enlarged diameter, .so that ashoulder is formed 4to seatron the upper face of Ythe king pinIE. "Abovethis ipoint. the :pivot 21 isfformed with an-enlargedhead 3Iunder which thefshank m3-2 of fthe' Carr-ier '2I is secured. The shank is `formed of twofsuperi-mposed extensions 32a and 321), -that'havealigned-punchedl openings to ymake it-fit rotatably on the neck 30. The shoulder on the lower end of the neck 30 pre-- vents the shank :f3-2 from being yclamped tight by the--nut'29 and-insures-freedom ofswing of the carrier arm 2-I at alltimes.

The carrier arm 2| `is i-preferably formed of fiat strap metal with-the flat-in a horizontal attached to the under face ofthe lower fork .f2-Ib :by rivets-or bolts 34.

.The forks 2Ia and ZIb are integrally connected by "an arcuate "extension or bight 35, which is Vuseful lbecause the conduits 22 can be hung on the under side of the fork 2Ib by suitable double hangers. Each hanger hasa .plate .3e with an elevated .middleportion carried on a suspending bolt 37 andhas two-hooks 38 Vprojecting laterally fromA the same, and extending under each of the two flexible conduits.

Near theouter end of the ,fork 2lb another hanger of this ltype is employed and I prefer also touse a similarchanger .at 39 on the bight 35. This enables the flexible-conduits to lbe supported so as to .present loose hanging ends 3@ to which their :coupling-heads '4I are attached.

The receiving end of each flexible connection 22 .-(if .pneumatic or hydraulic) is attached to a valve 52, A'having an operatinghandle llt, and

attached to a supply pipe line 45 (see Figure l). In case of an electrical connection an electric coupling would be employed v.for anchoring the end offfa, cable, suchas the cable 44 (see Figure 5), thatwould be carried .in Aits iiexible outer sheath. n

When the truck .or towing vehicle .is backe under the forward enduof the trailer,.the arm ZI, if vthe carrier varm should be inian of position, as indicated by the-dotted lines `.in Figure 2, :it willvbe engaged bythe side edges -of the converging throat -I8 and as vthe king pin :moves 'back into the slot I6, it will move with it. This straightens OutHthe ar-m 42| and brings it into longitudinal alignmentY with `the principal foreand-aft axis of the .trailer passing through the kingpin.

Of course, after the truck has --been coupled to the.A trailer bythe traction coupler through the Aagency of `the king pin I5, and the coupling heads -24 and 25 attachedt'o their ycorresponding couplerheads on the trailer, whenever the trailer frame swings laterally von the king vpin when the towing Vehicle is turning around Ya curve, orturning a'corner, the arm 2I carrying the flexible -hose -22 will 'also Yswing about the axis of the king pin. 'For this reasonthere :should be sufficient :slackin the hose 22, which may include loops las illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 to permit this freedom of swingingmovement'of the arm 2l.

Many other embodiments yof this invention may be resorted Vto without departing from the spiritof the invention.

yI claim-as my invention:

:1. linfa uid coupling apparatus -for coupling supply lines on `a towing Vehicle-to la trailer coupled thereto, `the combinationof a -pairaof 'relatively-fixed lcoupling members mounted adjacent the forwardend of the trailer, with one located on 'one vside of the fore-and-aft longitudinal axis of the trailer, and the other -on its other side, conduits on the .trailer connected respectively to said coupling members, a carrier pivotally mounted .on the towing vehicle togswing on fasubstantially vertical axis locatedA substantially on` the fore-and-aft longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle, said carrier including a forwardly projecting arm, a pair of flexible fluid conduits supported on said arm having free ends, coupling members attached respectively to each free end for attachment to the aforesaid coupling members located respectively on the same side of the fore-and-aft longitudinal axis of the trailer, yand means on the trailer for engaging the said carrier which the towing vehicle is backed into coupling position with respect to the trailer, operating to swing the arm into substantial alignment with the fore-and-aft longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle, thereby enabling the carrier arm to hold the coupling members that are attached to the free ends of the flexible conduits in a position to facilitate their attachment manually to the relatively fixed coupling members on the trailer.

2. A fluid coupling apparatus according to claim 1, including a king pin carried by the towing vehicle, and including a guide plate carried at the forward end of the trailer, with a guide throat therein to receive the king pin, and in which the carrier is pivotally mounted on the king pin, said guide throat cooperating with the carrier to align the same substantially on the fore-and-aft axis passing through the'king pin When the towing vehicle is coupled to the trailer.

3. A fluid coupling apparatus according to claim 1, including a fifth-wheel member mounted on the rear of the towing vehicle to swing on a substantially horizontal axis extending transversely to the fore-and-aft axis of the towing vehicle, also including a king pin carried by the fifth-Wheel member, and in which the carrier is pivotally mounted on the said fifth-wheel member to swing about its said axis; said carrier having a normal position in which it extends in a forward direction from the king pin.

4. A fluid coupling apparatus according to claim 1, including a fifth-wheel member mounted to tilt on a transverse horizontal axis at the rear of the towing vehicle, a king pin projecting upwardly on the said fifth-wheel member, the arm of said carrier being pivotally attached to the king pin, and resting on the said 'fifth-wheel member.

5. In a fluid coupling apparatus for coupling'a supply line for operating fluid on a towing vehicle, to a trailer coupled thereto, the combination of a king pin carried at the rear of the towing vehicle, a carrier arm pivotally supported on the king pin for rotation on the axis thereof, said arm formed of strap metal, having a shank portion attached to the king pin and having an arcuate extension at the free end thereof; and a fiexible fluid conduit attached and supported on the arm, extending outwardly along the same, Iand. having its outer end portion supported on said arcuate extension with its extreme end hanging downwardly between the arcuate extension and the king pin; and a coupling member carried by the depending end of the flexible conduit.

6. In a fluid coupling apparatus for coupling a supply line of operating fluid on a towing vehicle, to a trailer coupled thereto, the combination of a fifth-wheel member carried by the towing vehicle, a king pin extending upwardly therefrom, a flexible fluid conduit for the towing vehicle, a carrier arm for the said flexible conduit pivotally attached fork rotation on the vaxis of the king pin, and resting on the said fifthwheel member, said arm having a shank at its rear end for attachment to the king' pin, and having a downwardly offset extension below the level of said shank and resting on the said fifthwheel member, said offset extension projecting forwardly from the said fifth-wheel member and having an arcuate extension extending upwardly at its forward end; and means for securing said flexible conduit to the underside of said first named extension and to the forward side of said arcuate extension so as to leave the end portion of said fiexible conduit free and hanging downwardly; and a coupling member attached to the free end of said conduit.

7. In a fluid coupling apparatus for coupling a supply line of operating fluid on a towing vehicle, to a trailer coupled thereto, a bifurcated carrier arm for supporting a flexible conduit on the towing vehicle, said carrier arm formed of strap metal, having an upper fork and a lower fork spaced downwardly from the upper fork, the inner end of said arm having overlying shank elements offset from said forks to form an attaching shank for attachment to the king pin of the towing vehicle.

8. In a iiuid coupling yapparatus for cou-- pling a supply line of operating fluid on. a towing vehicle, to a trailer coupled thereto, thev combination of a fth-wheel tilt-member pivot-A ally supported on the trailer to rock on a sub-v stantially horizontal axis, and having a king pin projecting upwardly therefrom, an arm pivotallyv attached to said king pin to swing about the same in a substantially horizontal direction, and' projecting beyond the forward edge of said fifth.

wheel member, a fixed conduit carried by the said tilt-member.

9. In a fluid coupling 'apparatus for cou-- pling a supply line of operating fluid on a towing vehicle having a coupling member, to a trailer coupled thereto for traction, the combination of a relatively fixed fluid coupling member mounted adjacent the forward end of the trailer, a king-pin carried by the towing vehicle, a carrier pivotally attached on said king-pin and including an -arm extending forwardly from the king-pin, a flexible fluid conduit on the towing vehicle supported on the arm, having a free hanging end, a coupling member mounted on the said free end adapted to be manually connected to the aforesaid relatively fixed coupling member, a guide plate carried at the forward end of the trailer with a guide throat therein to receive the king-pin, said carrier having means to cooperate with said guide throat to align the said arm substantially on the fore-and-aft axis passing through the king-pin when the towing Vehicle is coupled to the trailer.

AMOS H. KIRKSEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED 'STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,973,610 Connors Sept. 11, 1934 2,119,460 Gurton et al. May 31, 1938 

